We all know about April Fool’s Day, but where did it come from? As you might expect from the holiday – no one’s really sure!

Ancient cultures would celebrate New Year’s Day, according to their calendar, on April 1st each year. It was close to the vernal equinox and during the Middle Ages, much of Europe would celebrate the Feast of Annunciation on March 25th, in honor of the new year that was approaching. In fact, France had a weeklong celebration in honor of the feast and ended on April 1st.

However, something interesting happened in 1582 when Pope Gregory XII ordered a new calendar to replace the old Julian Calendar. His new Gregorian Calendar moved the beginning of the year to January 1st instead of April 1st.

Youth tie a kite to an old man’s wig in this 1770s illustration.

That same year, France adopted the new calendar and shifted their New Year’s Day.

According to popular history, many people either refused to recognize the calendar change or had not heard about the change and continued to celebrate New Years on April 1st. Others began to poke fun at these traditionalists by sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something else. It’s believed that the practice of pranks of April 1st began there and spread across Europe.

The story does leave some things unanswered though. For example, England didn’t officially adopt the Gregorian Calendar until 1752 but the April Fool’s Day traditions were already established by that point. The second point that casts doubt on this story is the fact that there is no material evidence for the story. The story wasn’t written down or recorded but instead passed down from generation to generation.

So, as you might expect for a holiday about pranking, the details are a little slippery.

Ideas for April Fool’s Day
Have a family member who loves food storage? Get them our new Saratoga Farms Dehydrated Water! By just adding a little water, it’s instantly returned to it’s original state. With an infinite shelf life and a refreshing taste, you and your family will love the Dehydrated Water.

Print out this word search puzzle and give it to your victims. It looks like a normal puzzle but none of the words are actually in the puzzle. Wait until the right moment and point out the words “April” and “Fools” on the search.

Find a small picture that you can hang. Take a nail and cut it in half with wire cutters. Now glue the picture to the nail and glue a magnet on the back. Stick the magnet to the refrigerator then start making a loud banging sound in the kitchen. When they come in, they’ll see you finishing up nailing a picture on the fridge.

Have any ideas? Comment below and help us come up with some good ideas.

Gun laws have been some of the most debated issues in the history of the United States. The debate has been the balance between an individual’s right to bear arms and the government’s responsibility to prevent crime.

With the increased national debate on gun laws in recent history, we’ve had a lot of questions about the future of gun laws and how they might affect our customers and their emergency preparedness plans. That’s why we decided that it would be interesting to see where we’ve been – which might help us understand what the future might hold with gun laws.

While some hold that guns promote danger, others say they are necessary for protection and preparedness. Some key laws and acts have shaped the nation’s existing landscape of gun laws. Understanding our history helps us know where we currently stand with gun laws and what the future might hold. So, what are the gun laws? Take a look at some of the significant events below:

1689
Many people trace America’s Second Amendment to the English Bill of Rights of 1689. The bill stated that it was a given right of Englishmen to protect themselves and to have arms “in their defence, suitable to their condition, and degree, and such as are allowed by law.”

1774
Leading up to the Revolutionary War, the British responded to American’s increasing hostility by enacting a ban on the import of firearms and gunpowder. They even confiscated firearms in an effort to prevent an eventual uprising. This crystallized into the ideas of self-defense that eventually formed the Second Amendment.

1791
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified. The amendment reads: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. (You can read this article to see what points were debated and changed during the ratification process.)

1822
While the idea of the Second Amendment was still fresh in our country. A trial in Kentucky would shed further light on the subject. In Bliss v. Commonwealth, the courts struck down a Kentucky law which made it illegal for someone to carry a concealed weapon (a sword cane in this case). The ruling was unique in that it gave a broader reach to the definition of “arms.”

1840
In Arkansas, the circuit court upheld a state ban on concealed weapons (State v. Buzzard). A Tennessee district court also hands down a decision upholding the state’s law prohibiting concealed weapons. (Aymette v. State)

1856
One of the early battles with gun laws was whether or not slaves could possess guns. In Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that “It would give to persons of the negro race, who were recognized as citizens in any one State of the Union … the full liberty … to keep and carry arms wherever they went.”

1875
In United States v Cruikshank, the Supreme Court clarified a section of the Second Amendment stating that the amendment “was not intended to limit the powers of the State governments in respect to their own citizens” and “has no other effect than to restrict the powers of the national government.”

1894
In Miller v Texas, Franklin Miller was convicted for shooting a police officer with an unlicensed handgun. He sought for the conviction to be overturned based on the fact that he believed the Texas law banning unlicensed handguns was against his Second Amendment right. The Supreme Court disagreed and ruled that the Second Amendment did not apply to state laws such as the one in question.

1897
In a case that challenged the legality of state’s requiring permits for concealed weapons, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment doesn’t limit the freedom to bear arms. “The freedom of speech and of the press does not permit the publication of libel, blasphemous or indecent articles … the right of the people to bear arms is not infringed by laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons.” (You can read the full text of Robertson v. Baldwin here.)

1911
New York passes a law making it illegal to carry a handgun without a permit. The Sullivan Law prompts the National Rifle Association (NRA), which up to this point had just been a hobbyist and sportsmen’s club, to enter the political arena. Gun laws were placed on the backburner with the beginning of the First World War.

1934
The National Firearms Act passed in response to gangster culture during Prohibition. The law implemented a $200 tax on the making and transfer of automatic-fire guns, shotguns and rifles. The Act required a lot of paperwork to be filled out and be submitted to the Treasury Department.

1938
The Federal Firearms Act is passed by Congress. Congress aimed to limit the selling and shipping of firearms through interstate or foreign channels. Anyone involved in those type of sales was required to obtain a license from the Secretary of Commerce. They were also required to record the names and addresses of anyone they sold guns or pistols to.

1939
A ban on sawed-off shotguns is brought before The Supreme Court. The Court upholds the ban. In their decision, the Court implied that the Founding Fathers adopted the amendment to ensure the then-new federal government could not disarm state militias. (Read the United States. v Miller ruling here.)

1963
While gun laws had taken a backseat during WWII and the Cold War, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy brought it back to the forefront. Within a week of his death, nearly a dozen firearm bills are introduced.

1968
After the assassination of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., Congress passed the Gun Control Act. The law calls for better control of interstate traffic of firearms. Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot the president, used a mail-order gun.

1972
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Tax is changed to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The bureau is put in charge of the enforcement of the Gun Control Act and nearly doubles in size.

1986
The Firearm Owner’s Protection Act is approved by Congress. The law prohibits felons from owning or possessing guns or ammunition. The Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act is also passed. It prohibits the manufacturing, importing and selling of ammunition that can penetrate a bulletproof vest.

1990
The Crime Control Act directed the Attorney General to establish drug-free and gun-free zones around schools. The changes made it a crime to possess or discharge a firearm in a school zone. It also outlawed the illegal assemble of semiautomatic rifles or shotguns from legally imported parts. Many states, including California, bag the sale of firearms that have been defined as “assault weapons.”

1993
Congress passed the the Brady Handgun Violence Act, establishing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System gun dealers are to use before selling guns or pistols. The law is named after former White House Press Secretary James Brady, who was shot during the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

1994
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act becomes law. The law banned the manufacture, use, possession and import of 19 types of new semiautomatic weapons, including AK-47s and Uzis. The law expired in 2004.

2008
In District of Columbia v. Heller, The Supreme Court upholds a lower court ruling, striking down D.C. handgun ban as unconstitutional. The District had passed a law in 1976 which outlawed the ownership of a handgun.

Current Debate & Future
Currently, many points are being debated including whether semi-automatic weapons or high-capacity clips should be banned. Some are arguing whether more legislation is needed to moderate the buying and tracking process – concealed carry weapons (CCW), mental health records in background checks, etc.

The current debate funnels down to how to reduce gun-related violence. While one side debates that a culture with prevalent guns promotes increased violence, others argue that violence will be stifled when more of the population owns a gun.

What do you think the future of gun laws hold? Comment below and let us know.

Hopefully, you haven’t taken down your Christmas tree yet. The typical holiday pine tree can become a great asset to your garden, health or cooking needs.

Pine trees can be used for medicinal purposes, cooking, gardens and many other things. Check out this list below and see what you can do with your old Christmas tree. But one thing’s for sure – don’t just throw it away!

Medicinal
Before you toss your tree away, make sure that you extract as much sap as you can. Pine sap is a great medicinal tool that has antibacterial properties. You can use pine sap to seal wounds.

Chipper for Mulch
Many people will tell you to use your tree as mulch for the garden but you need to be careful with this. If you’re going to use your pine tree as mulch, you may need to clear off the pine needles. Since pine needles are slightly acidic, they work best with plants that need acidic soil – like blueberries, rhododendrons, gardenias and periwinkles.

Garden Cover
If you’re growing winter plants in your garden, you may need a covering to protect them from huge snow drifts or other extreme weather incidents. An old pine tree is a great way to do that. Not only does it protect your plants, but it will also decompose and add nutrients to your soil.

Firewood and Fire Starters
Allowing the wood to dry out turns into a great source of firewood for your stove or fireplace. You can also use the sap from pine trees as a firestarter. Branches of pine trees also make great torches if wrapped correctly.

Pine Needle Tea
Some people have even made tea with pine needles. The tea is great for fighting bacterial infections. It’s recommended that you add about 10 pine needles for every cup of tea. Start by bringing 1 ½ cups of water to a boil. Break apart the pine needles and add to the water. Turn off the heat and allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes. After 5 minutes, stir in honey to sweeten. You can strain out the needles if you would like. Do not add excessive amounts of pine needles however, in that it can be hazardous to your health.

Thickener
Grind up the wood and pine cones and use them as a natural thickener like flour and corn starches. The inner bark of the pine tree is actually very nutritious and full of Vitamin C. A helpful tool that you can use in an emergency survival situation.

What do you do with your old Christmas tree?
Comment below to tell us what you do with your old pine trees and how others can use them for different purposes. Share the knowledge!

At The Ready Store, we hope you’re having a great holiday season. Please be safe as you travel and spend time with your family.

To celebrate Christmas, we wanted to pass along some fun and interesting Christmas Infographics. You’ll be able to learn about international Christmas traditions, the top gifts through the years or even how to prepare your turkey the best way possible.

Click on any of the images below to see the full infographic. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

10 Interesting Facts About Christmas	The Acutal Cost of the 12 Days of Christmas
Christmas Turkey Tips	Traditional Christmas Meals Across the World
Top 50 Christmas Toys over the Last 100 Years

Christmas can be a hectic time of the year and it’s important to plan and be ready. You don’t want Christmas to end up being a disaster. Here are a few things to consider beforehand to ensure that you are prepared with all the essentials on Christmas Day.

Go to the Gas stations
One thing that I always forget is boxes in order to wrap the presents. Go to a gas station and ask them if you can have some old boxes. Just make sure that you have enough boxes to wrap all the odd-shaped items this Christmas.

Opening Toys Early
No, that doesn’t mean that you get a sneak peek at what you’re getting for Christmas! In order to be prepared, you need to understand what you’ve actually purchased. It’s a smart idea to open the toys that you buy your kids beforehand and assemble them. That way you know if they’re broken and need to be returned, or if they require time, batteries, another product, etc.

Eat the Cookies
Don’t forget to leave out a plate of cookies for Santa. Be sure to sneak a cookie off the plate too before Santa gets there (hint, hint) - but remember, he’s always watching.

Batteries
As a prepared individual, you’re sure to have extra batteries in your 72-hour kit and emergency pack. But do you have batteries ready to use for your presents? Be sure to have enough batteries and some extra ones if some are already included.

Tape and Wrapping Paper
If you need to do some last-minute wrapping, be sure to plan with extra wrapping paper and tape.

A Present for your Spouse
You have probably been ready for a while with a present for your child, but don’t forget about your spouse. We’ve even heard of people buying backup gifts – items that if your spouse react well to the first gift, you play it off as a gag and pull out the “real” gift. If they love the first gift, you just return the backup gift.

Food for Dinner
Remember that most stores won’t be open on Christmas day. That means that you’ll have to be fully prepared with extra food items. You won’t want to leave your family to go get a gallon of milk or extra eggnog on Christmas.

Napkins
Having family over for dinner on Christmas day? Don’t forget other items that you’ll need besides the meal. For example, you’ll probably need napkins

Goal Zero Yeti
If the power goes out, you won’t miss a beat this Christmas with a Solar Powered Generator. Even if it’s snowing, you’ll still have enough energy to keep things going for dinner and power a couple of the presents.

Share Your Sage Advice
So what recommendations do you have? Share your Christmas stories and what things you’ve forgotten on Christmas Day.

You may have heard the theories that the world is ending on Dec. 21, 2012. According to some, an ancient civilization of Mayans predicted that the world would end this year. This has lead to many rumors of meteor impacts, colliding planets, economic collapses and many other horrible events.

With all these stories flying around, we found out some interesting facts that  indicate that the world may not end. Read these points and comment below to tell us what you think about the 2012 predictions.

The Mayans Aren’t Extinct
Part of these 2012 theories is that ancient prophecies and calendars point to 2012 as the end of days. They cite the calendar of an “extinct nation.” However, the Mayan people are still around! Communities of Mayans still live in Guatemala and Mexico and are very much alive today.

Mayan Calendars Ending in 2012
The Mayan calendar is actually made up of a few different calendars. The popular circular calendar image that you’ve probably seen isn’t even the Mayan calendar – it’s the Aztec calendar! The real one is pictured on the right and was discovered in 1929.

The first calendar was called Tzolk’in and is a 260-day calendar. The Mayan culture was based on the number 20 (like Western cultures are based on 10s and 7s) and so the calendar was based on 20 day periods. There are a couple theories on why the calendar had 260 days including the fact that it corresponded to harvest, pregnancies or the sun reaching a high point the sky every 260 days.

The second calendar – called Haab’ - is solar based and is made up of 18 months of 365 days. It’s believed that this calendar was used for tracking the seasons, but was partially inaccurate due to the lack of a leap year.

These two calendars were combined into one ultimate calendar. The Calendar Round allowed people to track both the Tzolk’in and Haab’ calendars at the same time. The Calendar Round repeated every 18,980 days (52 Haab’ years and 73 Tzolk’in years).

Since the Rounded Calendar typically lasted a person’s lifetime – 52 years – the Mayans wanted to create a calendar that would track for longer than a person’s lifetime. They invented what has been named the long count. They broke down their calendar into increments of 20 – 20 days, 20 periods of 20 days etc. – until they had a period of 144,000 days or a  b’ak’tun – the largest unit of calendar measurement.

The Mayans worked backwards and believed that the first b’ak’tun began Aug. 11, 3114 BC – the day when the gods laid the foundation of the earth. They never believed the world would end on Dec. 21, 2012 – only that the b’ak’tun would end and a new one would begin. In fact, some archeological sites have shown that Mayans mentioned later dates such as 17 b’ak’tun in writings and paintings. However, the Mayans did believe that significant events would occur around each b’ak’tun ending/beginning. So, hopefully it’s a good event!

Another Planet or Large Asteroid Crashing Into Earth
Some theories have popped up that the world will end when a rogue star or planet crashes into earth. Many Internet rumors have even theorized that the planet is hiding behind the sun or we just haven’t seen it yet in our telescopes.

However, when you think about it: If most people can see Jupiter or Mars as a bright spot in the night sky – that would mean this rogue planet would already be the brightest, and one of the largest objects in our sky. No one would be able to hide it, everyone on earth would be able to see it.

Not to mention, if a large planet the size of Jupiter or a dead star were to enter our solar system, the planet’s orbits would change slightly due to gravitational pull.

However, it’s impossible for us to keep track of everything in the skies and a meteor could strike with only a few day’s notice.

A Large Solar Storm Hitting Earth
Solar activity is a regular occurrence on earth and typically runs through an 11-year cycle. In their peaks, solar flares can cause interruptions with satellite communications however, engineers are learning new ways to build electronics to avoid the disruption.

The flare-up period is actually already started and runs from 2012 to 2014. Amateur scientists keep a watchful eye on the sun every day and haven’t noticed any irregular signs of activity. They are predicting a regular maximum cycle will occur.

However, there is a lot about the sun that we don’t understand and new facts about the sun are discovered every year. A large solar flare could be produced without any warning.

The Planets Aligning
Some theories state that the planets will align and mess up the gravitational balance of the solar system. However, using a simple map of the solar system, you can see that the planets won’t be aligned on Dec 21st or any date close to that.

Many people also say that it’s not the planets that are aligning but the center of our galaxy. They say that earth, our sun and the galactic center will align. Well, that is true but it happens every year in December.

Doomsday Predictions
Most of these reports cite writings of Nostradamus, Hopi Indian tribes, Hindu traditions or even Isaac Newton.

Most of these individuals and cultures made predictions about what the end of the world would be like, but none of them attached specific dates to their writings. The oft-cited Nostradamus quatrains don’t even mention the date 2012. He even made predictions about earth in 3790 AD – far beyond 2012.

So What Do You Think?
So, what do you think about the 2012 prophecies? Was there something we didn’t cover here? Comment below to tell us your thoughts.

This week, we were forwarded an email from a family that lives in New Jersey that dealt with the power outages as the result of Hurricane Sandy.

This family made a list of lessons they learned during the storm. We wanted to pass along some of the points on their list so that you and your family could learn from their experiences and be better prepared for a power outage.

We’d love to know what you think about them. Comment below to add your opinion or add No. 27, 28 or 29 to the list.

So, what do you think?
Comment below to tell us what you think and add to the list.

Like it or not, Black Friday has become a new American tradition that affects millions of people’s plans for the morning after Thanksgiving. But how did this all start? Why the day right after Thanksgiving?

To help you stay ready for the holiday promotions (hint hint), we’re going to take you on a journey through the history of Black Friday!

Before 1930s: Unwritten Rules
In the early 1900s it was an unwritten rule that no retail store would promote Christmas items until after Thanksgiving. (Wow, can you imagine?) Instead of holiday sales in October, companies would spend lots of money on parades the day after Thanksgiving.

You can still see evidences of these parades today in the Macy’s Day Parade and others. Retail stores would sponsor giant parades the day after Thanksgiving and you could bet that one of the final floats in the parade would include Santa Claus, reminding all people to buy their Christmas gifts from the sponsoring store.

1930s -1940s: Presidential Involvement
Retail stores quickly realized that these holiday promotions were great for business and kept trying to think of ways to get more time to promote – especially during the Great Depression. This led national retail stores to pressure President Franklin D Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving day.

So, in August 1939, President Roosevelt announced that they would break from an American custom that President Lincoln had established and begin celebrating Thanksgiving a week earlier – on the second-to-last Thursday of November.

Because of the late announcement, many people didn’t like the change and gave it the name of “Franksgiving” after Franklin D Roosevelt. The date ended up sticking but the change didn’t affect retail store incomes by a lot.

1950s – 1970s: What’s in a Name?
So, where did the Black Friday name come from? Many people think it has connections to the stock market crash of the Great Depression (which actually started on a Tuesday) but in reality the name Black Friday was connected to this shopping spree phenomena in Philadelphia.

WIth the huge push from retail stores to get out and shop on the Friday after Thanksgiving, combined with college football games and parades, the Philadelphia Police Department began to dread how many people were out and about and began calling it Black Friday.

The name spread around and people began calling that day Black Friday. Retail stores, realizing that it had a negative connotation to it, pushed for people to start calling it Big Friday but the PR move didn’t really catch on.

2000s: Getting earlier and earlier
Shoppers hoping to get great deals on Black Friday products would start arriving early for the typical 6 a.m. opening of a store. Retail stores, realizing that more people were coming early, accommodated and began opening their doors earlier and earlier. This has lead to store openings creeping farther back to 5 a.m., 4 a.m. and now midnight at many major retail stores. In fact, Walmart has announced plans to open at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night in many locations.

In recent years, many companies objected to the negative connotation of the Black Friday name. In the early 1980s, people began to connected the name of Black Friday to company accounting. It was assumed that many companies operated at a financial loss for the majority of the year (in the red on their accounting ledgers) and then moved to a profit during the holiday seasons (in the black). This lead many to think that the Black Friday name had stuck because of the nickname among businesses executives.

2010s: The Emergence of Cyber Monday
With the advent of the Internet, more and more consumers began shopping online instead of in person. Avoiding the lines on Black Friday seemed like a good idea.

This lead to many online stores offering Black Friday-type deals on the Monday following Thanksgiving. They would often promote these deals in their email newsletters (hint hint).

2012 Sneak Peek
Everyone is excited about Black Friday deals and while we can’t tell you yet, what our amazing deal will be, we can give you a hint:

Your family tradition
So, as you can see – like it or not – Black Friday has become an American tradition that affects our economy. So, what does your family do on Black Friday? Have you set a family record with savings? Let us know by commenting below.

[The Ready Store does not support any political candidate or party. Any mention of political parties or politicians does not infer an endorsement or support.]

Throughout history, the position of President of the United States has done a lot to affect the preparedness of Americans, from establishing federal agencies to responding with relief efforts, each president has impacted America’s preparedness.

But which U.S. president has done the most for American’s preparedness? Which president was the most preparedness oriented? Check out this list below and let us know what you think by commenting after the article.

William McKinley
The Galveston Hurricane in 1900 remains one of the deadliest and most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history. The majority of the relief efforts were coordinated by local authorities however McKinley sent thousands of surplus Army tents to those affected along with a few rations to help. Some critics called McKinley’s efforts weak, however, he did open the way for many companies (such as Johnson & Johnson) to help with relief efforts.

Barack Obama
It may be too early to determine how President Obama’s relief efforts have affected the American people. President Obama has dealt with the largest ever declared natural disaster in U.S. history. The Drought of 2012 has affected hundreds of U.S. counties and is threatening the price of corn and cattle. President Obama has opened up millions of dollars of funds for farmers and ranchers who are fighting low crop yields and lean cattle.

Hurricane Sandy was also a major event under President Obama’s tenure. Recently 8 in 10 people polled stated that he had handled the disaster well.

Chester A. Arthur
After the Civil War, Clara Barton visited Europe upon the request of her doctor. While visiting there, she saw the system that was in place with the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. She had the idea to establish the American Red Cross upon her return but her efforts were not received with much positive feedback because people thought that there would never again be a catastrophic event like the Civil War.

President Arthur surprised Barton and others by signing the Geneva Treaty and agreeing that they would comply with Red Cross standards. This meant that Barton’s organization could become an official member of the Red Cross and has led to one of the largest relief organizations in the world.

Jimmy Carter
The first time that the U.S. government officially gave relief efforts was in 1803. Congress passed a measure that allowed merchants to extend their payment time after a series of fires destroyed the port of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Other disasters such as the Great Fire of New York (1835) and the Lincoln assassination were also given some relief funds.

Before 1978, the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the main department in charge of disaster relief on a federal level. However, the system was so messy that at time over 100 different federal agencies were involved with relief efforts.

In 1978, President Carter established the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the 1978 Reorganization Plan No. 3. It was then activated on April 1, 1979 through President Carter’s Executive Order 12127.

Richard Nixon
On Oct. 3, 1970, President Nixon combined three of the oldest federal departments into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He combined the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Weather Bureau and Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.

The scientific agency now rests within the Department of Commerce and focuses on the dangers of weather, charts the seas, skies and guides the protected use of coastal resources.

Imagine if NOAA hadn’t been around when a hurricane struck the coastline of the nation. Millions of people would be caught off guard and evacuation notices wouldn’t be as effective.

George W. Bush
In response to the September 11 attacks, President Bush saw the need to create an organization that could defend and protect Americans from threats and attacks.

On Nov. 25, 2002, he organized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by signing the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Soon after its formation, DHS worked with an advertising agency – The Martin Agency – to create ready.gov. They now promote preparedness against natural disasters, attacks, incidents and other emergencies.

President Bush’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate in 2003 placed FEMA under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security.

What’s your vote? (get it?)
So what do you think? Is there a president we left out that you think deserves some recognition? Comment below to tell us your thoughts.

And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday!

[The challenge is now closed, we will notify you of the winners shortly.]

Be one of the first three people to guess what the electoral college vote will be on Nov. 6th and win a $100 gift card to The Ready Store!

The electoral college is one of the oldest and most unique aspects of our company. Every four years, the college determines who the president of the United States will be.

Fill out the form below for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Remember that the total split between the three entries must total 538. A candidate must earn 270 votes to win the presidency.

[The challenge is now closed, we will notify you of the winners shortly.]